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25679 Hits
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76.66% Score
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7 Votes
Page Type:
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Route |
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Lat/Lon:
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40.42560°N / 112.1989°W |
Route Type:
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Hike with some brush and routefinding |
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Time Required:
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Half a day |
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Difficulty:
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Class 2 |
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Overview
Ophir Canyon is a relatively short and easy approach route to reach Lowe Peak. It is also located on public BLM land, and therefore avoids potential problems of passing over privately owned land which exists on other routes. The route begins in Ophir Canyon, near the town of Ophir, Utah. Refer to the main page "Getting There" section for general directions on reaching the town of Ophir.From the far east end of the town proceed up the Ophir Canyon dirt road for approximately 1.5 miles, where the road ends at a small turnaround and parking area (±6.9 miles as measured from State Highway 73). The dirt road beyond Ophir is rocky but passable by most passenger vehicles, although a vehicle with high clearance is preferable. During periods of high runoff it may be necessary to drive though several small creek crossings.
This is the standard starting point for the route under dry conditions. For winter or early spring hikes, or those without a vehicle suitable for the road conditions, it will be necessary to park further down the road, possibly near the end of the paved road in Ophir.
Stats
Data given here assumes a hike begining from the end of Ophir Canyon Road. The road is not snow plowed beyond the town of Ophir, so for winter and early spring hikes it may be necessary to park at the end of the maintained road. This will add several round-trip miles to the hiking distance listed here.One-Way Hiking Distance: 3.2 miles
Trailhead Elevation: 7,090 ft.
Summit Elevation: 10,589 ft.
Elevation Gain: 3,499 ft.
Average Gain per Mile: 1,093 ft.
Route Description
GPS coordinates appear in blue and are UTM NAD83.From the small parking area at the end of the Ophir Canyon road (12T 0395649E 4472945N) cross the stream bed and begin following the faint use trail up the Ophir Canyon drainage. The trail is small and not well maintained, but generally easy to follow. The trail crosses back and forth across the drainage a number of times, and may require fording the stream on early season hikes.
Lowe Peak is not visible initially, but soon comes into view as you move further up Ophir Canyon. After approximately 1.25 miles the trail arrives at a small meadow (12T 0396953E 4474041N), with a view of the west face of the peak directly ahead. At this meadow turn right and head southeast up the drainage.
Follow this drainage several hundred yards and soon Dead Ox Pass will become visible on the ridge to the east. There are several minor ridges along the drainage which head east, any of which may easily be ascended to the pass. At Dead Ox Pass (12T 0398275E 4473664N) the summit will be visible well to the north, but is mostly hidden by the ridge leading up to it.
From Dead Ox Pass it is an easy ridge walk north to the summit. Distance from the pass to the summit is ±1.1 miles, gaining approximately 1,370 feet of elevation along the way.
Descent from the summit can be made by retracing the ascent route. Alternatively, descend down either of the minor ridges on the west face of the peak, then routefind down the canyon a short distance until the Ophir Canyon trail is intersected.